Cotter Trout Dock Weekly Fishing Report

  May 28, 2025

More reports and other videos are on the Cotter Trout Dock Youtube Channel Page.
Below is the Arkansas Game and Fish Fishing Report May 28, 2025.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 5-29-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is rising pretty quickly; Wednesday the lake level was 690.15 feet msl, just 5 feet below flood pool. An average of one generator or less has been in operation each morning for the past week (about 3,000 cfs). Higher releases should be starting soon as the Army Corps of Engineers begins to bring the lake down.

Both boaters and shore anglers have been able to fill their creels with rainbows using red wigglers or nightcrawlers. Drift-fishers will do best with the pink worm — Berkley or X-Factor — or by adding the bubblegum pink “mouse tail” to your line. It comes ready-made with a white egg at the top; thread it to cover the eye of your hook and dangle the rest of the imitator worm like you would a live red wiggler. Not getting enough bites? Experiment with the orange Power Worm to lure the more curious ones.

The average size of the rainbows here in the Ozark region of The Natural State seems to be increasing, and that should continue as we see lots of fresh, cold water from the lake with the increased releases expected. Also, with higher releases, you’ll be able to throw your favorite stick baits again. The glass blue Husky Jerk minnow is magic.
What about the browns? A big ol’ Rapala Countdown is the answer in the rainbow or the brown trout versions. They haven’t given up on sculpins, though, so keep some on hand.

“Keep anglin’ and stay aware of surroundings. Prepare for the weather and water releases, and come ready to catch some great trout on the White River.”

 

Calico Rock Area

(updated 5-29-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The rains continue to keep the river high and dirty. About the time the river started clearing, we got another round of storms last weekend. As of Wednesday the river remains high and fast but the water is clearing. Both Bull Shoals and Norfork lake levels remain very high and rising. 

“On Wednesday afternoon the Norfork Dam sluice gates were opened. In addition to lowering the lake level, an added benefit is the extra water will help flush out the dirty water. I expect by Friday we will see high but fishable water. If you plan on getting on the river below the confluence of Norfork River and the White River, be prepared for the faster flow, remain aware of your surroundings and DO NOT throw out an anchor in the river.”

 

Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 5-29-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake said Wednesday the lake level is still on the rise at 690 feet msl. Water temperature has dropped to around 69 degrees. The lake may be high, but fish don’t seem to mind. The bigger creeks still have some debris coming in; be careful with floaters as the wind changes direction. Take debris precautions on flooded launch ramps and courtesy docks. Parking has become an issue, as most boat ramps and parking areas are now underwater. The marinas are doing a great job of accommodating everyone. 

The water conditions toward the main lake remain gin clear on toward the dam, with color still in the backs of creeks. Bass are grouping up. Powerfishing shallow has been fair with clouds, rain, wind and stained runoff water. Spinnerbait, Chatterbait and a square bill work well in the stained water. Target wind-blown points and bigger grass flats, and also check roads under water and the flooded buckbrush. The ole Big Worm Texas-rigged in laydowns is a good bet. There are always fish to be caught on a jig, like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. Try putting the boat on the old shoreline. Try a shaky head, wobble head tube or a Ned rig. A lot of fish have moved up with the rise.

The offshore video gamers are gonna have to work. The mass of shad is still spread out, moving out to the ends of points or at the mouths of the creeks. Target larger bait balls or any bait you can find up high near the surface and closer to the shore. If you are targeting shad eaters, it’s been work. A smaller 2.8 swimbait and/or a regular Tater Shad as well as a Slab Spoon have been working. Topwater has been fair: the Lucky Craft Gunfish or a small white Pop-R-style or Zara Spook Jr.-style bait over flooded points and saddles. “Good luck, have fun, be safe and, as usual, ‘Fish the Conditions.’”

(updated 5-29-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service  said that with the amount of rain they have had this past week, the lake water has come up a good bit. The walleye fishing has been fair to good, with fish being caught over buckbrush by casting white spinnerbaits or a quarter-ounce or ⅜-ounce jighead with a small swimbait or jerkbait. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper along the old shoreline. Fish are scattered along rounded points with deep water close by and along steeper creek channel swings with shad. Fishing the shoreline in 18 to 20 feet of water with a spinner and crawlers has been working this week. A jig and crawler slowly worked along in 25 feet to 30 feet at the edge of the flooded brush will also work. 

If trolling shallow, try to fish low-light periods. Trolling size 7 Flicker Shads at speeds of 1.5 to 1.7 mph in 18 to 20 feet along wind-blown banks will also work. Some walleye are still being caught in open water over the flooded trees. (However, with the lake rising, we are seeing a lot of debris floating in the water, making it harder to troll.)

If trolling deep, try deep-diving crankbaits with snap weights to get your baits down 60 to 70 feet and fish over the flooded trees in 80 or more feet of water at 1.5 to 1.7 mph.

(updated 5-29-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service says crappie are super scattered all over the lake. There isn’t a lot of structure in the right zones but anglers are catching some when you are lucky enough to find it. Minnows have definitely been best as of late. Cover lots of water and look for it around 10-20 feet.

 

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 5-29-2025) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters guides out of Tracy Ferry Marina and reports that the lake has risen to 579 feet msl, the Norfork 1 foot below flood pool. The creeks are rising and stained; the main lake is clear.
The stripers have begun their migration toward the dam. They have also gone deeper as they migrate. “We are switching our methods. All long lines are now being replaced with down lines. A down line is a 3-ounce barrel sinker and long leader. I am running six downlines and two long lines.

“As the stripers move south, they will be found mainly along the points and long bluffs starting at Robinson Point and south. As June approaches, the stripers will continue to move south.”

 

Buffalo National River
(updated 5-22-2025) Fish ’N Stuff said they are hearing from a lot from angling customers doing well on the Buffalo in recent days. They are catching smallmouth bass in 2-4 feet of water and throwing a Ned rig with a green pumpkin, worm-style bait or creature bait on about a ⅛-ounce chartreuse jighead. Also, they are catching them on small, white ⅛-ounce Rooster Tails, or a 2½-inch green pumpkin tube with 1/8-ounce jighead. And don’t leave without trying a 4.5-inch Robo Worm in Morning Dawn color with a ⅛-ounce weight for a successful outing.